11.06.2025 Statement for debate on IRMCT

Checked Against Delivery

Thank you Madam President,

President Gatti Santana and Prosecutor Brammertz thank you for your comprehensive briefings today and for your continued contribution to achieving international criminal justice.

I also wish to welcome the presence of H.E. Mr. Vujić Minister of Justice of Serbia as well as representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Rwanda at today’s debate. Last year we marked the 30^th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, and this year we will mark the 30^th anniversary of the genocide at Srebrenica. It is your work, in the national jurisdictions in Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia, that is key to providing justice to the victims and survivors today.

As this is Denmark’s first time participating in a Council debate on the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, let me start by expressing our full support to the Mechanism and its important work. The Mechanism has made significant accomplishments and continues to play a crucial role in ensuring accountability, ending impunity and preventing future atrocities.

Madam President, allow me to make three points.

First, I wish to welcome the progress reports presented by President Gatti Santana and Prosecutor Brammertz. We especially want to highlight that the Mechanism has now accounted for all fugitives and completed all trials and appeals. This is a major milestone for our fight against impunity and for honouring the victims and survivors of these devastating atrocities.

As the briefers made clear, the work is not yet over. The Mechanism’s assistance to national jurisdictions, including the Prosecutor General of Rwanda and national prosecutors in the former Yugoslavia, continues to be vital for their efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for serious violations of international law. As stated in the report, a staggering number of suspected war criminals are still to be brought to justice. In addition, the Mechanism continues to play an important role in the protection of victims and witnesses, supervising the enforcement of sentences, preserving court records and fighting denial of the genocide and other atrocities committed in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

Madam President,

Secondly, we welcome the Mechanism’s continued efforts to realize the Security Council’s vision of a small, temporary and efficient organization and to provide assistance to the Secretary General on the reports on the future of the archives and options for the transfer of the Mechanism’s functions. We encourage the Mechanism to identify further concrete steps to realise the Council’s vision and welcome the concrete suggestions outlined by the Prosecutor in this regard. We stress that such efforts must not be at the expense of justice. The core functions of the Mechanism must be preserved until it fully completes its mandate. The Mechanism’s ability to finalize its operations is dependent on the cooperation of States, including the transfer of the suspects subject to arrest warrants. We urge all States to fully cooperate with the Mechanism in accordance with their international obligations and to expedite their efforts to enable the Mechanism to fulfil its mandate.

My third point, relates to the preservation of the Mechanism’s archives. This is crucial and we look forward to receiving the Secretary General’s report on options in this regard. The archives are not only essential for ongoing national authorities’ investigation and prosecution efforts, but also to ensure that the crimes of the past are neither forgotten, distorted or repeated. The archives will serve as a testament to the legacy of the ad hoc tribunals and as an essential resource for education and prevention of atrocities. We underscore that the future location of the archives must be one that secures this objective.

Let me conclude by reiterating Denmark’s steadfast support for international criminal justice and our unwavering commitment to supporting the Council’s efforts to combat impunity wherever it exits.

Thank you.